For as long as I can remember, I’ve had this little voice in my head that tells me everything has to be *just right*. Not perfect—*flawless*. I’d double-check emails five times before sending, rewrite my grocery list to look neater, and completely avoid starting projects unless I was 100% sure I could do them perfectly….
It’s funny how often we praise perfectionism like it’s this badge of honor — like saying “I’m just a perfectionist” somehow explains late nights, missed meals, and chronic self-doubt. I used to wear that badge proudly, until it quietly started running my life. I didn’t even realize how much anxiety was rooted in that drive…
I never really saw it coming. Perfectionism always felt like a badge of honor—striving for excellence, triple-checking every detail, pushing myself just a little harder than everyone else. But at some point, it stopped feeling like a strength and started weighing me down. Deadlines made me freeze. One small mistake ruined my entire day. I…